Me. By The Numbers. If You Please.

A good friend of mine recently "ran my numbers", which has something to do with numerology. I don't know very much about that. I sort of lump it in with Astrology, Auras and other forms of Mystic Poetry. (Looks like I have some wikipedia reading to do.)

This is what my numbers reading had to say about me.

The Life Path 8 suggests that you entered this plane armed to lead, direct, organize and govern. You are very ambitious and goal-oriented. You will want to use your ambitions, your organizational ability, and your efficient approach to carve a satisfying niche for yourself. If you are a positive 8 you are endowed with tremendous potential for conceiving far-reaching schemes and ideas, and also possessing the tenacity and independence to follow them through to completion. In short, you were born to be an executive.

You know how to manage yourself and your environment. Your ability to judge the character and potential of the people around you is an asset used to your advantage. A large part of your success in life comes from how hard you work. This Life Path is the most prone to producing workaholics. But your ability to spot good people and engage them in your endeavors is a special trait not to be overlooked. There is an inspirational quality in your makeup which allows you to become a great leader. You are practical and steady in your pursuit of major objectives, and you have the courage of your convictions when it comes to taking the necessary chances to get ahead.

With the Life Path of the number 8 you are focused on learning the satisfactions to be found in the material world. The Life Path 8 produces many powerful, confident and materially successful people. Most of your concerns involve money and learning of the power that comes with its proper manipulation.

This Life Path is perhaps the one that is the most concerned with and desirous of status as an ultimate measure of success. You want to be recognized for your hard work and achievements. The attainment of honors and acceptance into the club of executive leadership is all important. For this, you may find yourself very well suited to compete in the business world or in the political arena.

In relationships, you are frank, honest, and steadfast. You may be very much in love, but watch that you are not too busy and preoccupied to show it. Being the lavish provider is not always an adequate substitute for showing your devotion and affection in more personal ways. You have a great need for close personal relationships to mitigate and somehow soften your nature. You must find the time for love and keep it as an important project in your life.

The negative 8 can be dictatorial and often suppresses the enthusiasm and efforts of fellow member of the environment. Often, the strength of their own personality excludes close feelings for other people with whom they come in contact. Material gains and rewards often become issues of utmost importance, even to the neglect of family, home and peace of mind. Dedication to success can become an obsession. Emotional feelings are often suppressed by the negative 8, resulting in isolation and loneliness. All Life Path 8 people must avoid discounting the opinions of others.

Now then, leaving aside your opinions of Numerology, if I handed this to you and said that my shrink gave me this psychological evaluation, what would you think about it?

If you're like me, you'd think, "Dang, that's pretty close to being accurate."

That really does sound like me. In both the positive and negative ways. The bits about ambition (read: stubbornness) and the bits about isolating oneself. All of that resonated with me.

Most importantly, the thing that I took from this, is that I should be more mindful of the opinions of others. As an improviser, an artist whose work is specifically dependant upon my ability to value the opinions and artistry of a small troupe of fellow actors, awareness of the opinions of others is key to the group dynamic. It's fundamental to my art, in a way that it's perhaps less important to stand-ups and comedy writers and theater directors. The Integration of The Other. That's key. And focusing a little light on it, because this numbers deal mentioned it, can't be a bad thing.

So, yeah, it read like a description of me, to me.
Did it read like an accurate description of me, to you too?

Numerically Yours,
Mr.B